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What’s New In ACT2013 ACT User Conference

Jim Brod

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Websites Escrow Pre-payments QR Codes Refund Screen Taxpayer Information Screens IVR Phone System Batch Menu Parameters Setting Legal Status by Year and Tax Unit Managing Exemptions for Surviving Spouses Scheduling Payments Hotel/Motel System and Permits Systems

Overview

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Websites

Captcha

• A 'test' on a web site page that humans can pass but current computer programs cannot.

ACT Rules • Captcha appears after 50 web site pages requested by

same IP address• User is given 20 attempts to enter the four-character

captcha code.• After 20 failures, the IP address is blocked from further web

site useOR• After 2000 web site pages per day, the IP address is

blocked

Websites

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Escrow Pre-payments

ACT has developed the functionality to allow for easily escrowing pre-payments for taxpayers

Serves as a helpful tool for taxpayer in planning for their annual property tax bill

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Escrow Pre-payments From the Simple Payment screen, users just need to click the Escrow Payment button

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Escrow Pre-payments From there, users can easily select the “Escrow for Upcoming Year” option before processing the payment

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QR CodesQuick Response codes

Two-dimensional barcode used to store information

Readable by imaging device such as smart phone or tablet which can convert the information to a useful form-including URLs for webpages

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QR Codes can be added to tax statements

QR Codes

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When the code is read by a smartphone or tablet, taxpayers are brought directly to their account on the tax office website for payment and information

QR Codes

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Taxpayer Information Screen• We have created a new taxpayer

information screen to keep track of contact information.

• Home and cellphone numbers, as well as email addresses can be stored in order to improve communication with taxpayers.

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Taxpayer Information Screen• The Taxpayer Information Screen can

be accessed through the accounts tab

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Taxpayer Information Screen

Phone tab

Email tab

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Refund Screen

• We have created a new refund screen to assist tax office employees in keeping track of refunds.

• Refunds and voids from TaxLedge are shown

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Refund Screen• Current Refunds button is available by

entitlement at the bottom of the Payment Detail screen

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Refund Screen• Screen provides information on the refund

type, check number, date printed, and recipient address

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IVR Phone System• We have created the ability in TCS to

automatically pull up an account transferred to tax office personnel from the Avaya IVR system.

• Tax offices no longer have to manually enter account numbers when IVR phone calls are transferred to them for assistance.

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IVR Phone System• The phone button is available form the main TCS

screen through the client pref main_menu_show_ivr

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IVR Phone System• Tax office employees can press the phone button

to automatically access account information from an IVR call

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Users can now access the parameters used when running each batch menu job

Batch Menu Parameters

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TCS now allows users to include information on suits by taxing jurisdiction.

Allows the user to easily see which years and taxing units are included in lawsuits.

Setting Legal Status by Year and Tax Unit

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Setting Legal Status by Year and Tax Unit

This function will be thoroughly described in the 9 Topics in 90 Minutes session

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Managing Exemptions for Surviving Spouses Users can now manually enter information for

both veterans an surviving spouses on the Special Exemptions tab of the Account Master screen.

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We are currently working on updating our tax office websites to provide the ability for tax payers to schedule automatic payments

Taxpayers will be able to log in to the website and schedule tax payments to be deducted from their bank accounts or charged to their credit cards on a bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly schedule

Simplifies payment agreements and quarter pays for taxpayers and tax offices

Scheduling Payments

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Scheduling Payments

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Hotel/Motel System ACT has developed a new interface for use by hotels and

motels for reporting and payment processing

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Hotel/Motel System ACT has developed a new online interface for

use by hotels and motels Fully integrated with TCS and TaxLedge Allows hotel owners to file and pay online. Reduces errors which can cause short pays and

overpays. Robust reporting, including ability to bill

customers. Reduce data entry required by the tax office. To be discussed Thursday at 1:30 in Room B.

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City Permits System ACT has expanded our TABC permits system

to be used by cities as well as counties.

We can provide you h the information you need to start collecting city fees.

To be discussed tonight at Aldaco’s during our Permits session.